Dad Of 16 Children, Who Worked 'Round The Clock' Dies Of Heart Attack At Age 56

Terry Harvey, from Cardiff, a dad who worked 'round the clock' to support his 16 children just died of a heart attack at age 56, always wanted a lot of children because he was from a big family himself, but his family said he never dreamed he would have so many. After meeting his wife Marie in 1979, the pair went on to have 12 girls and four boys, as well as 33 grandchildren. There were five more on the way when Mr Harvey died. Mrs Harvey, to whom he was married for 35 years, said she was 'heartbroken' at her husband's sudden death.

Terry Harvey (pictured back middle) had always wanted a big family but never dreamed he would go on to have 16 children and 33 grandchildren. Some of his family are pictured here in 2006 with his wife Marie 

A family spokesman said: 'Terry was a brilliant dad - he worked long hours but always helped to look after the children getting up in the middle of the night to help when they were young.
'He was always proud of supporting his large family despite many people advising him that he might be better off claiming benefits.

Mr Harvey, pictured in 1999 with some of his family, died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 56 

'He used to say: "I didn't have my kids for the Government to support them - that's my job".' 

Mr Harvey, one of seven children himself, used to say Marie was a supermom running one of the smoothest households in Britain from their five-bedroom home in Llanedeyrn, Cardiff. Together they looked after their children Machala, 36, Leanne, 34, Tracey, 33, Samantha, 32, Christopher, 31, Colin, 29, Jodie, 28, Amy, 26, Kimberly, 25, Loretta, 23, Daniel, 22, Roxanne, 21, Shikera, 18

 Mr Harvey had met his wife Marie, with whom he is pictured left and right in 1999, at a working men's club in 1979 and they married just eight weeks later 

One of their children, Shiola, died in 1996 when she was five days old. Jessica died before she was born. After Shiola's death, Mr Harvey had a reverse vasectomy operation so he could go on to have more children. Paying tribute to their father, his children said Mr Harvey gave them good morals and a sense of hard work.

Despite working long hours, Mr Harvey always helped look after the children getting up in the middle of the night to help when they were young. Since his death, Mrs Harvey and her children have taken comfort from the respect shown by Mr Harvey's workmates who downed their tools after hearing he had died.

Mr Harvey was a proud grandfather and was singing 'Under the Sea' to them from the Little Mermaid the day before he died. He is pictured here with some of his family in 2010 

The family spokesman said: 'Terry loved his job and was always cheerful while working he would even get told off for singing too much.
'He had a great sense of humour and delighted in teaching his African Grey parrot Mickey to swear.
'He loved spending time at his caravan on the coast on the Gower coast where he would relax with Marie and the children. 

Hungry mouths: Mrs Harvey serving up dinner to 12 youngsters in 2002

Mr Harvey loved spending time at his caravan at Port Einon, where the family would relax by playing card games, with him and Mrs Harvey 'cheating' to win all the sweets.

He was fond of animals and adored his Great Dane Zana. His family said his grandchildren will remember him as a great playmate singing 'Under the Sea' from the Little Mermaid to them the day before he died.

WHAT THE HARVEY FAMILY WOULD DEMOLISH IN JUST ONE WEEK
84 litres of milk, 28 loaves of bread, Four blocks of cheese, 120 slices of ham, 72 eggs, 60 bananas, apples and oranges, a 56lb sack of potatoes, 24 cans of beans, 4 bottles of tomato ketchup, 400 tea bags, seven bags of sugar, seven bottles of squash, 36 toilet rolls, 3 boxes of washing powder, 10 bottles of shampoo, 10 bottles of conditioner, Five bottles of shower gel, 2 tubes of toothpaste,

All of the children together. Mr and Mrs Harvey had 12 girls and four boys. Two of the girls tragically died. Mr Harvey, who was born in 1958, died suddenly on September 16. Building sites across South Wales shut down for his funeral today after he made a lifelong list of friends